Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-12T17:16:26.522Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Laying hen rearing systems: a review of major production results and egg quality traits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2014

S. RAKONJAC ,
S. BOGOSAVLJEVIĆ-BOŠKOVIĆ ,
Z. PAVLOVSKI ,
Z. ŠKRBIĆ ,
V. DOSKOVIĆ ,
M.D. PETROVIĆ  and
V. PETRIČEVIĆ
S. RAKONJAC*
Affiliation:
University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Agronomy, Cacak, Serbia
S. BOGOSAVLJEVIĆ-BOŠKOVIĆ
Affiliation:
University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Agronomy, Cacak, Serbia
Z. PAVLOVSKI
Affiliation:
Insitute for Animal Husbandry, Belgrade-Zemun, Serbia
Z. ŠKRBIĆ
Affiliation:
Insitute for Animal Husbandry, Belgrade-Zemun, Serbia
V. DOSKOVIĆ
Affiliation:
University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Agronomy, Cacak, Serbia
M.D. PETROVIĆ
Affiliation:
University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Agronomy, Cacak, Serbia
V. PETRIČEVIĆ
Affiliation:
Insitute for Animal Husbandry, Belgrade-Zemun, Serbia
*
Corresponding author: simcepb@yahoo.com
Get access

Abstract

Laying hen rearing systems have been the focus of scientific research for many years. Over the last few decades, new laying hen rearing systems have been rapidly introduced in an effort to harmonise poultry health and welfare with consumer, producer, industry and environmental demands. Given the above situation, the subject matter of this paper was a comparative review of the results obtained by different authors on the effect of rearing system on productive traits (egg production and mortality) and egg quality characteristics (egg weight, proportions of main egg parts, Haugh units, yolk colour and carotenoids) in laying hens. Although productive performance in alternative systems is often lower compared to conventional, intensive layers, eggs from alternative systems have been proven in numerous studies to have better nutritional properties. Moreover, research results indicate differences within rearing systems. In view of this, this overview of the literature on the use of different rearing systems in table egg production can serve as a tool in determining the future direction of research as well as an indicator of its practical application.

Keywords

laying henrearing systemsproductive traitsegg quality
Type
Review Article
Information
World's Poultry Science Journal , Volume 70 , Issue 1 , March 2014 , pp. 93 - 104
Copyright
Copyright © World's Poultry Science Association 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

AKYREK, H. and OKUR, A.A. (2009) Effect of Storage Time, Temperature and Hen Age on Egg Quality in Free Range Layer Hens. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 8 (10): 1953-1958.Google Scholar
ANDERSON, K.A. (2010) Range egg production, is it better than in cages? MPF Convention, March 16-18, 2010.Google Scholar
BARBOSA FILHO, J.A.D., SILVA, M.A.N., SILVA, I.J.O. and COELHO, A.A.D. (2005) Egg Quality in Layers Housed in Different Production Systems and Submitted to Two Environmental Conditions. Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science 8 (1): 23-28.Google Scholar
BASMACIOGLU, H. and ERGUL, M. (2005) Research on the Factors Affecting Cholesterol Content and Some Other Characteristics of Eggs in Laying Hens. Turkish Journal of Veterinary Science 29: 157-164.Google Scholar
BLOKHUIS, H.J., FIKS VAN NIEKERK, T., BESSEI, W., ELSON, A., GUEMENE, D., KJAER, J., LEVIRNO, G., NIKOL, C., TAUSON, R., WEEKS, C. and VAN DE WEERD, H.A. (2007) The Lay Way Project: Welfare implication of changes in production systems for laying hens. World's Poultry Science Journal 63 (1): 101-114.Google Scholar
BOGOSAVLJEVIĆ-BOŠKOVIĆ, S., RAKONJAC, S., DOSKOVIĆ, V. and PETROVIĆ, D.M. (2012) Broiler rearing systems: a review of major fattening results and meat quality traits. World's Poultry Science Journal 68 (2): 217-228.Google Scholar
BURBAUGH, B., TORO, E. and GERNAT, A. (2010) Introduction to Pasture-Raised Poultry: Getting Started AN232. Animal Science Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CASTELLINI, C., PERELLA, F., MUGNAI, C. and DAL BOSCO, A. (2006) Welfare, productivity and qualitative traits of egg in laying hens reared under different rearing systems. Poster at: XII European Poultry Conference, Verona, 10-14 September.Google Scholar
CHERIAN, G., HOLSONBAKE, T.B. and GOEGER, M.P. (2002) Fatty Acid Composition and Egg Components of Specialty Eggs. Poultry Science 81: 30-33.Google Scholar
DVORAK, P., SUCHY, P., STARKOVA, E. and DOLEŽALOVA, J. (2010) Variation in egg yolk color in different systems of rearing laying hens. Acta Veterinaria Brno 79: 13-19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ĐUKIĆ-STOJČIĆ, M., PERIĆ, L., BJEDOV, S. and MILOŠEVIĆ, N. (2009) The quality of table eggs produced in different housing system. Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry 25 (5-6): 1103-1108.Google Scholar
ELWINGER, K., TUFVESSON, M. and HARTMAN, C. (2002) Genotype-environment interactions in layer housed in an organic feed environment. Archiv für Geflügelkunde 66, Sonderheft II: 32.Google Scholar
ENGLMAIEROVA, M. and TUMOVA, E. (2009) The effect of housing system and storage time on egg quality characteristics. Proceedings of the 19th (XIX) European Poultry Symposium on Quality of Poultry Meat, XIII European Symposium on the Quality of Eggs and Egg Products. 21-25 June 2009, Turku, Finland: unpaginated.Google Scholar
FANATICO, A. (2000) Pastured Poultry: An HI Case Study Booklet. ATTRA Publication. National Center for Appropriate Technology Fayetteville, AR.Google Scholar
FANATICO, A., POLSON, S. and BORN, H. (2005) Poultry Genetics for Pastured Production. Publication of ATTRA, the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. www.attra.ncat.org.Google Scholar
FERRANTE, V., LOLLI, S., VEZZOLI, G. and CAVALCHINI, L.G. (2009) Effects of two different rearing systems (organic and barn) on production performance, animal welfare traits and egg quality characteristics in laying hens. Italian Journal of Animal Science 8: 165-174.Google Scholar
FLOCK, D.K., LAUGHLIN, K.F. and BENTLEY, J. (2005) Minimizing losses in poultry breeding and production: how breeding companies contribute to poultry welfare. World Poultry Science Journal 61: 227-237.Google Scholar
FOSSUM, O., JANSSON, D.S., ETTERLIN, P.E. and VAGSHOLM, I. (2009) Causes of mortality in laying hens in different housing systems in 2001 to 2004. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 51: 3.Google Scholar
HANCOCK, J., WELLER, R. and McCALMAN, H. (2003) 100% Organic Livestock Feeds - Preparing for 2005. A report prepared for Organic Centre Wales.Google Scholar
HEGELUND, L., SORENSEN, J.T. and HERMANSEN, J.E. (2006) Welfare and productivity of laying hens in commercial organic egg production systems in Denmark. Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 54-2: 147-155.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
HENRY, R. (2002) Organic Poultry - Eggs. Maritime Certified Organic Growers - Organic Profiles, March 2002.Google Scholar
HIDALGO, A., ROSSI, M., CLERICI, F. and RATTI, S. (2008) A market study on the quality characteristics of eggs from different housing systems. Food Chemistry 106: 1031-1038.Google Scholar
HILMIRE, K. (2012) The grass is greener: Farmers' experiences with pastured poultry. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 27: 173-179.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
HOLT, P.S., DAVIES, R.H., DEWULF, J., GAST, R.K., HUWE, J.K., JONES, D.R., WALTMAN, D. and WILLIIAN, K.R. (2011) The impact of different housing systems on egg safety and quality. Poultry Science 90: 251-262.Google Scholar
HORSTED, K., HAMMERSHOJ, M. and HERMANSEN, J.E. (2006) Short-term effects on productivity and egg quality in nutrient-restricted versus non-restricted organic layers with access to different forage crops. Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A 56: 42-54.Google Scholar
HUGHES, B.O., DUN, B.O. and McCORQUODALE, C.C. (1985) Shell strength of eggs from medium-bodied hybrid hens housed in cages or on range in outside pens. British Poultry Science 26: 129-136.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
KARADAS, F., WOOD, N.A.R., SURAI, P.F. and SPARKS, N.H.C. (2005) Tissue-specific distribution of carotenoids and vitamin E in tissues of newly hatched chicks from various avian species. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-Molecular and Integrative Physiology 140: 506-511.Google Scholar
KORELESKI, J. and ŚWIATKIEWICZ, S. (2009) Laying performance and nitrogen balance in hens fed organic diets with different energy and methionine levels. Journal of Animal and Feed Sciences 18: 305-312.Google Scholar
KOSMIDOU, M.D., FORTOMARIS, P.D., SOSSIDOU, E.N., YANNAKOPOULOS, TSERVENI-GOUSSI and A.S. (2007) The effect of an enriched pasture with aromatic plants on some egg quality characteristics of free-range laying hens. Proceedings of the XVIII European Symposium. on the Quality of Poultry Meat and XII European Symposium. on the Quality of Eggs and Egg Products. Prague, September 2-5: 73-74.Google Scholar
KOUBA, M. (2003) Quality of organic animal products. Livestock Production Science 80: 33-40.Google Scholar
KRAWCZYK, J. (2009) Quality of eggs from Polish native Greenleg Partridge chicken-hens maintained in organic vs. backyard production systems. Animal Science Papers and Reports 27 (3): 227-235.Google Scholar
KUCUKYILMAZ, K., BOZKURT, M., HERKEN, E.N., CINAR, M., CATH, A.U., BINTAS, E. and COVEN, F. (2012) Effects of rearing systems on performance, egg characteristics and immune response in two layer hen genotype. Asian - Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 25 (4): 559-568.Google Scholar
LONG, C. and ALTERMAN, T. (2007) Meet Real Free-Range Eggs. Mother Earth News Magazine. http://www.motherearthnews.com/print-article.aspx?id=117586.Google Scholar
MATKOVIĆ, K., VUČEMILO, M. and MATKOVIĆ, S. (2007) Utjecaj alternativnog načina držanja nesilica na kvalitetu jaja. Meso, n.1.Google Scholar
MATT, D., REMBIALKOWSKA, E., LUIK, A., PEETSMANN, E. and PEHME, S. (2011) Quality of Organic vs. Conventional Food and Effects on Health. Report. Estonian University of Life Sciences 2011.Google Scholar
MESIAS, F., MARTINEZ-CARRASCO, F., JOSE MARTINES, J. and GASPAR, P. (2011) Functional and organic eggs as an alternative to conventional production: a conjoint analysis of consumers’ preferences. Journal of Science and of Food and Agriculture 91: 532-538.Google Scholar
MINELLI, G., SIRRI, E., FOLEGATTI, A., MELUZZI, A. and FRANCHINI, A. (2007) Egg quality traits of laying hens reared in organic and conventional systems. Italian Journal of Animal Science 6 (Suppl. 1): 728-730.Google Scholar
MOSTERT, B.E., BOWES, E.H. and VAN DEN VALT, J.C. (1995) Influence of different housing systems on the performance of hens of four laying strains. South African Journal of Animal Science 25 (3): 80-86.Google Scholar
MUGNAI, C., DAL BOSCO, A. and CASTELLINI, C. (2009) Effect of rearing system and season on the performance and egg characteristics of Ancona laying hens. Italian Journal of Animal Science 88: 175-188.Google Scholar
OBERHOLTZER, L., GREENE, C. and LOPEZ, E. (2006) Organic Poultry and Eggs Capture High Price Premiums and Growing Share of Specialty Markets. Outlook Report from the Economic Research Service. United States Department of Agriculture LDP-M-150-01, December 2006.Google Scholar
ODEN, K., KEELING, L.J. and ALEGERS, B. (2002) Behaviour of laying hens in two types of aviary systems on 25 commercial farms in Sweden. British Poultry Science 43: 169-181.Google Scholar
PAVLOVSKI, Z., ŠKRBIĆ, Z., LUKIĆ, M., KRNJAJA, V., BIJELIĆ, Z. and TRENKOVSKI, S. (2010) Tehnologija proizvodnje jaja sa slobodnog ispusta posebnog i garantovanog kvaliteta. Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry 26 (special issue): 55-66.Google Scholar
PERMIN, A. and PEDERSEN, G. (2001) The need for a holistic view on disease problems in free-range chickens. Network for Smallholder Poultry Development, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University Frederiksberg, Denmark: 9-13.Google Scholar
PIŠTEKOVA, M., HOVORKA, M., VEČEREK, V., STRAKOVA, E. and SUCHY, P. (2006) The quality comparison of eggs laid by laying hens kept in battery cages and in a deep litter system. Czech Journal of Animal Science 51 (7): 318-325.Google Scholar
PLOCHBERGER, K. (1989) Feeding experiments. A criterion for group on high dose irradiation. Weekly Epidemiological Requality estimation of biologically and conventionally produced cord . Agriculture Ecosystem Environment 27: 419-428.Google Scholar
RAKONJAC, S., BOGOSAVLJEVIĆ-BOŠKOVIĆ, S., DOSKOVIĆ, V. and PETROVIĆ, D.M. (2013) Mortality of laying hens and broilers under different rearing systems. 23 rdInternational symposium „New Technologies in Contemporary Animal Production“. Novi Sad (Serbia) - Proceeding: 195-197.Google Scholar
RIZZI, C. and CHIERICATO, G.M. (2005) Organic farming production. Effect of age on the productive yield and egg quality of hens of two commercial hybrid lines and two local breeds. Italian Journal of Animal Science 4 (Suppl. 3): 160-162.Google Scholar
RIZZI, C. and CASSANDRO, M. (2009) Quality of eggs of hybrid and Italian hens reared under organic production system. Proceedings of the 19th (XIX) European Poultry Symposium on Quality of Poultry Meat, XIII European Symposium on the Quality of Eggs and Egg Products, 21-25 June 2009, Turku, Finland: unpaginated.Google Scholar
RIZZI, L., SIMIOLI, M., MARTELLI, G., PAGANELLI, R. and SARDI, L. (2006) Effects of organic farming on egg quality and welfare of laying hens. XII European Poultry Conference, Verona, 10-14 September: unpaginated.Google Scholar
ROBERTS, J.R. (2004) Factors Affecting Egg Internal Quality and Egg Shell Quality of Laying Hens. Journal of Poultry Science 41: 161-177.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
ROSSI, M. (2007) Influence of the laying hen housing systems on table egg characteristics. Proceedings of the XVIII European Symposium on the Quality of Poultry Meat and XII European Symposium on the Quality of Eggs and Egg Products. Prague, September 2-5: 49-51.Google Scholar
SAMMAN, S., KUNG, F.P., CARTER, L.M., FOSTER, M.J, AHMAD, Z.I., PHUYAL, J.L. and PETOCZ, P. (2009) Fatty acid composition of certified organic, conventional and omega-3 eggs. Food Chemistry 116: 911-914.Google Scholar
SCHLATTERER, J. and BREITHAUPT, D.E. (2006) Xanthophylls in commercial egg yolks: quantification and identification by HPLC and LC-(APC)MS using a C30 phase. Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 54: 2267-2273.Google Scholar
SEKEROGLU, A., SARICA, M., DEMIR, E., ULUTAS, Z., TILKI, M. and SAATCI, M. (2008) The effects of housing system and storage length on the quality of eggs produced by two lines of laying hens. Archiv fur Geflügelkunde 72: 106-109.Google Scholar
SENČIĆ, Đ. and BUTKO, D. (2006) Proizvodnja nesilica i kvaliteta kokošijih jaja iz slobodnog i kaveznog sustava držanja. Poljoprivreda 12 (2): 1-5.Google Scholar
SHAFER, D.J., CAREY, J.B. and PROCHASKA, J.F. (1996) Effect of Dietary Methionine Intake on Egg Component Yield and Composition. Poultry Science 75 (9): 1080-1085.Google Scholar
SHENSTONE, F.S. (1968) Egg quality, in: Carter T.D. (Ed.): A study of the avian egg, pp. 26-58 (Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh).Google Scholar
SOSSIDOU, E.N., DAL BOSCO, A., ELSON, H.A. and FONTES, C.M.G.A. (2011) Pasture-based system for poultry production: implications and perspectives. World's Poultry Science Journal 67: 47-58.Google Scholar
SPARKS, N.H.C., CONROY, M.A. and SANIDILANDS, V. (2008) Socio-economics drivers for UK organic pullet rearers and implication for poultry health. British Poultry Science 49: 525-532.Google Scholar
SUTO, Z., HORN, P. and UJVARI, J. (1997) The effect of different housing system on production egg quality traits of brown and leghorn type layers. Acta Kaposvariensis 1: 29-35.Google Scholar
ŠKRBIĆ, Z., PAVLOVSKI, Z., LUKIĆ, M., VITOROVIĆ, D., PETRIČEVIĆ, V. and STOJANOVIĆ, LJ. (2011) Changes of egg quality properties with the age of layer hens in traditional and conventional production. Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry 27 (3): 659-667.Google Scholar
TAUSON, R. and HOLM, K.E. (2001) First furnished small group cages for laying hens in evaluation program on commercial farms in Sweden. In: H. Oester and C. Wyss (eds.) Proceedings 6th European Symposium on Poultry Welfare, Zollikofen, Switzerland: 26-32.Google Scholar
VAN DEN BRAND, H., PARMENTIER, H.K. and KEMP, B. (2004) Effects of housing system (outdoor vs. cages) and age of laying hens on egg characteristics. British Poultry Science 45 (6): 745-752.Google Scholar
VAN DE WEERD, H.A., KEATINGE, R. and RODERICK, S. (2009) A review of key health-related welfare issues in organic poultry production. World's Poultry Science Journal 65: 649-684.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
VAN RUTH, S., ALEWIJN, M., ROGERS, K., NEWTON-SMITH, E., TENA, N., BOLLEN, M. and KOOT, A. (2011) Authentication of organic and conventional eggs by carotenoid profiling. Food Chemistry 126: 1299-1305.Google Scholar
WEITZENBURGER, D., VITS, A., HAMANN, H. and DISTEL, O. (2005) Effect of furnished small group hosing system and furnished cages on mortality and causes of death in two lazer strains. British Poultry Science 46 (5): 553-559.Google Scholar
WĘŻYK, S., KRAWCZYK, J., CALIK, J. and POŁTOWICZ, K. (2006) Quality traits of eggs from HyLine White and HyLine Brown hens kept in cages and on litter. XII European Poultry Conference, Verona, 10-14 September: unpaginated.Google Scholar
YAKUBU, A., SALEKO, A.E. and IGE, A.O. (2007) Effect of genotype and housing system on the laying performance of chickens in different season in semi-humid tropics. International Journal of Poultry Science 6 (6): 434-439.Google Scholar
ZEMKOVA, L., SIMEONOVA, J., LICHOVNIKOVA, M. and SOMERLIKOVA, K. (2007) The effects of housing systems and age of hens on the weight and cholesterol concentration of the egg. Czech Journal of Animal Science 52 (4): 110-115.Google Scholar
ZOLLITSCH, W., KRISTIANSEN, T., KRUTYINNA, C., MACNAEIHDE, F. and YOUNIE, D. (2004) Feeding for Health and Welfare: the Challenge of Formulating Well-balanced Rations in Organic Livestock Production, in: VAARST, M., RODERICK, S., LUND, V. & LOCKERETZ, W. (Eds) Animal Health and Welfare in Organic Agriculture, pp. 329-356 (Wallingford, UK) http://www.motherearthnews.com/eggs.aspx.Google Scholar